What are the different types of plastids? Explain their functions within a plant body?
- Plastid is a membrane-bound organelle found in the cell of plants, algae and few eukaryotic cells.
- It the site of production and storage of important chemical compounds which are used by the cells of autotrophic organisms.
- They contain pigments which are used in photosynthesis and the types of pigments determine the cell's colour.
- The types of plastids are-
1) Chloroplasts:- are the green plastids which contain chlorophyll pigments for photosynthesis.2) Chromoplasts:- are the coloured plastids for pigment synthesis and storage.
- The pigment present in them is carotene which gives a different colour to fruits and flowers.
3) Gerontoplasts:- are the chloroplasts that are going through the ageing process.
- These are present in the leaves in which no more photosynthesis occurs (such as in the fall months).
4) Leucoplasts: are the colourless plastids for monoterpene synthesis found in non- photosynthetic parts of the plants.
- They are of three types:-
a) Amyloplasts- stores starch.
b) Proteinoplasts- stores proteins.
c) Elaioplasts- stores fats and oils.